Wright writes.....

[Bucoops]

Would the proprietor of PDK be able to supply an etch for it perhaps?

[t-b-g]

I think Tony Wright could make one quicker than the phone call to order one if he wanted to go down that route.

[Chamby]

I find myself pleasantly bemused on Tony’s approach with the J17’s GWR firebox, and the resultant exclamations of horror!   We all make compromises from time to time and it just goes to show that he is as human as the rest of us...  

 

I wonder how many folk would have noticed if he’d kept quiet about it?

 

 

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, lee74clarke said:

Good Afternoon Tony,

 

Which number Britannia is it please?

 

Best Regards

Lee

Good afternoon Lee,

 

It's 70037 HEREWARD THE WAKE.

 

If you're interested, it's yours. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, stewartingram said:

Would the Wills (now SEF) N7 firebox be better?

 

Stewart

It would Stewart,

 

However, it's only the top bit which is modelled. There's nothing below the tanks the top of the tanks. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Tony Wright]

1 hour ago, Bucoops said:

Would the proprietor of PDK be able to supply an etch for it perhaps?

I'm sure they would.

 

However, it's part of a much larger sheet. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Edited May 17, 2020 by Tony Wright
typo error

[t-b-g]

28 minutes ago, Chamby said:

I find myself pleasantly bemused on Tony’s approach with the J17’s GWR firebox, and the resultant exclamations of horror!   We all make compromises from time to time and it just goes to show that he is as human as the rest of us...  

 

I wonder how many folk would have noticed if he’d kept quiet about it?

 

 

 

You don't get things like that past the assembled RMWeb panel! I saw the photo before I read the words and thought "That firebox looks odd!" I may not have spotted the GWR origins but I was pretty sure it didn't come from anywhere near Stratford.

 

I don't think anybody was expressing horror. Maybe more surprise that somebody who we all know builds cracking good models would do something like that!

[Tony Wright]

I must say I'm slightly amused at the exclamations of 'horror' at my somewhat 'dodgy' approach at fudging a GER Belpaire firebox from a GWR one. 

 

'Modeller of your skill and ability'!

 

'Human as the rest of us'!

 

What next? 

 

I'm delighted that folk have expressed their displeasure at my being a miscreant. If one attempts to give advice and tell folk how to do things, it would be easier if my feet were not made of clay. 

 

To hide my 'shame', the J17 might well end up in boiling water (which will melt the solder holding the firebox in place), and then I'll make one from brass. It looks like an ill-advised short cut.

 

I'm also greatly in favour of asking modellers I admire what they think. That said, I don't think I'd have asked Malcolm Crawley how to build chassis without 'tight spots' or Roy Jackson how to build an A2/2, despite my having great respect for them.  

 

I'm also sure that, when the loco be finished (without my having shown any step-by-step pictures), painted and weathered, many would not notice the transgression. Still, it's better to come clean - I have little respect for all the swooning 'likes' one sees on some sites in response to much of what I consider mediocre - 'blind spots' and all that. 

 

Speaking of respect, I have lots of that commodity for folk who actually show us what they're actually making - themselves. There are many 'critics' who do that on this thread (and I thank them for it), but there are some who do not. Why not? 

 

 

[Tony Wright]

5 hours ago, dibateg said:

Ah - so there will be a little bit of Great Western on the ECML! I was good to see 61078 again, now I know it, that radius rod looks far too long! And now we know it - you'll have to put those washout plugs right Tony!

 

Regards

Tony

Good afternoon Tony,

 

'Ah - so there will be a little bit of Great Western on the ECML!'

 

Indeed!

 

 

 

 

Part of the barter for my obtaining your B1 and 76XXX was my fixing of this DJH 'Hall'. 

 

If you recall, it ran from time to time on Charwelton, but never very well. Mick Peabody built the chassis and I'm sure I did a fair bit on the bodywork, after which Ian Rathbone painted it. 

 

It had a tight spot, but I think, with a bit of tweaking, I've cured this, and it certainly whirled this 45-wagon express freight round LB with ease. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

 

 

[micklner]

53 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

 

 

 

Speaking of respect, I have lots of that commodity for folk who actually show us what they're actually making - themselves. There are many 'critics' who do that on this thread (and I thank them for it), but there are some who do not. Why not? 

 

 

Todays 1,000,000 dollar question, its is very noticeable on RM Web in general , how so many of the loudest howlers and nit pickers , never show anything or very little of their work , some  are very good saying , I did this and that etc etc as well , perhaps they cant afford a camera.

Pot Kettle Black springs to mind ,

p.s I wouldnt have noticed the firebox !!

[Bucoops]

I don't think I have been critical to anyone's work - but equally it has been a while since I have posted any of my work. Most of my stuff is at work, and I am not so I picked out Nick Easton's 7mm Drewry shunter to attack as my lockdown project. As ever I'm a very slow builder but this is how it is at present

 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by Bucoops
add last photo

[D-A-T]

20 minutes ago, micklner said:

Todays 1,000,000 dollar question, its is very noticeable on RM Web in general , how so many of the loudest howlers and nit pickers , never show anything or very little of their work , some  are very good saying , I did this and that etc etc as well , perhaps they cant afford a camera.

Pot Kettle Black springs to mind ,

p.s I wouldnt have noticed the firebox !!

I take continual inspiration from this thread and many like it on here. But my work is nowhere near the standard on here etc so I prefer not to show it. But neither do I make any “snide” comments either because that would be hypocritical in the extreme. When I have something worth showing, and I remember to take photos, I will

post it on here. Hopefully that won’t be too long as I’m rather proud of a C12 I’m currently building.

[t-b-g]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

I must say I'm slightly amused at the exclamations of 'horror' at my somewhat 'dodgy' approach at fudging a GER Belpaire firebox from a GWR one. 

 

'Modeller of your skill and ability'!

 

'Human as the rest of us'!

 

What next? 

 

I'm delighted that folk have expressed their displeasure at my being a miscreant. If one attempts to give advice and tell folk how to do things, it would be easier if my feet were not made of clay. 

 

To hide my 'shame', the J17 might well end up in boiling water (which will melt the solder holding the firebox in place), and then I'll make one from brass. It looks like an ill-advised short cut.

 

I'm also greatly in favour of asking modellers I admire what they think. That said, I don't think I'd have asked Malcolm Crawley how to build chassis without 'tight spots' or Roy Jackson how to build an A2/2, despite my having great respect for them.  

 

I'm also sure that, when the loco be finished (without my having shown any step-by-step pictures), painted and weathered, many would not notice the transgression. Still, it's better to come clean - I have little respect for all the swooning 'likes' one sees on some sites in response to much of what I consider mediocre - 'blind spots' and all that. 

 

Speaking of respect, I have lots of that commodity for folk who actually show us what they're actually making - themselves. There are many 'critics' who do that on this thread (and I thank them for it), but there are some who do not. Why not? 

 

 

 

An interesting point. If, for the sake of an example, somebody who knows their way around a loco but has never built a model of anything in their life sees something wrong on a model, should they comment or keep quiet? Do they have to earn the right to be a critic by producing modelling credentials?

 

I really don't know the answer to that one and I am interested in what people think.

 

I certainly wouldn't have asked Malcolm for advice on smooth running either but he had a very good eye for what looked right on a loco. Had the shape of the dome been captured just right, was there a thick edge showing when it should be a thin one, that sort of thing. Roy's strength was in his running qualities (his locos - not him!) and in his attention to accuracy of construction. If something wasn't quite parallel or straight, he would pick it up immediately.  Between the two of them, they covered all the bases!

 

I do think that you, Tony W, have a certain reputation within the hobby of producing good looking and great running locos. I just felt that the J17 firebox wasn't going to enhance that reputation and I felt that would have been a shame!

 

I will say no more on the matter as I feel I may have upset a few "regulars".

 

    

[Tony Wright]

37 minutes ago, micklner said:

Todays 1,000,000 dollar question, its is very noticeable on RM Web in general , how so many of the loudest howlers and nit pickers , never show anything or very little of their work , some  are very good saying , I did this and that etc etc as well , perhaps they cant afford a camera.

Pot Kettle Black springs to mind ,

p.s I wouldnt have noticed the firebox !!

Good afternoon Mick,

 

'p.s I wouldnt have noticed the firebox !!'

 

That's very kind of you, but it is noticeable - definitely more so since I've subjected it to greater scrutiny. 

 

It's interesting in your observation that some critics might not be able to afford a camera. And, speaking of scrutiny, one downside of owning extremely powerful cameras is that they show every fault - in crystal clarity. 

 

Still, it's vital that folk should be express their observations and 'criticisms'. Nobody's work should be exempt from that (especially mine), but, as always, any 'criticism' comes from a position of greater strength when the work of the 'critics' can be scrutinised as well. That said, I'd be horrified if folk were dissuaded from showing their work one here because they didn't think it was 'good enough'. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony.

[lee74clarke]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Good afternoon Lee,

 

It's 70037 HEREWARD THE WAKE.

 

If you're interested, it's yours. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Many thanks Tony, PM sent.

 

Kind Regards,

Lee

[Tony Wright]

7 minutes ago, t-b-g said:

 

An interesting point. If, for the sake of an example, somebody who knows their way around a loco but has never built a model of anything in their life sees something wrong on a model, should they comment or keep quiet? Do they have to earn the right to be a critic by producing modelling credentials?

 

I really don't know the answer to that one and I am interested in what people think.

 

I certainly wouldn't have asked Malcolm for advice on smooth running either but he had a very good eye for what looked right on a loco. Had the shape of the dome been captured just right, was there a thick edge showing when it should be a thin one, that sort of thing. Roy's strength was in his running qualities (his locos - not him!) and in his attention to accuracy of construction. If something wasn't quite parallel or straight, he would pick it up immediately.  Between the two of them, they covered all the bases!

 

I do think that you, Tony W, have a certain reputation within the hobby of producing good looking and great running locos. I just felt that the J17 firebox wasn't going to enhance that reputation and I felt that would have been a shame!

 

I will say no more on the matter as I feel I may have upset a few "regulars".

 

    

Good afternoon Tony,

 

I've made a habit of upsetting regulars - with consummate ease; it must be a 'gift'!

 

Reputations are made, and made to be pulled down as well. It's very right that errors are pointed out, especially if someone then copies them. And, I don't think that one has to have done 'better' to be critical of something. That said, I always respect the view of someone who's actually made something, rather than the view of someone who's 'going to' or gets others to do their modelling for them. 

 

I'm disappointed that you'll be saying no more on the matter. You are a maker of things and your views carry some (in fact a lot of) respect.  

 

Which makes me wonder on occasions why 'we' show models 'we've' made. I must have written hundreds of articles for the model press explaining how I've made things. Why? Because I was once a teacher and wish to impart knowledge? Unlikely, since I chose teaching as a career mainly because of the length of the holidays! 

 

Is it because of a genuine desire to help others in their modelling? I pre-dated you as a tutor at Missenden, and my 'pupils' only ever felt they'd been 'accepted' after I'd been highly-critical of what they'd made; sparing no feelings at all!  

 

I suppose RMweb (and, particularly to me, this thread) is a sort of digital magazine, where 'articles' appear for scrutiny, and are commented upon -  instantly. Great feedback - good, and bad. I've certainly produced more modelling under lockdown, and posted just about all of it on here. I'd like to think some of it was interesting, amusing and even helpful. Being helpful is paramount in my motivation (that's why attend - or attended) so many shows, and it's gratifying when folk appreciate it. One chum told me the other day of a problem he'd encountered with a loco he'd bought off a deceased modeller's estate. 'It's a lovely model, but the polarity is the opposite to the norm. I'll have to change all the wheels and the pick-ups around'. 'What's the motor' I asked'. It's an open-framed D11'. 'Simple, just remove the magnet (gripping it in the jaws of big pliers to retain the magnetic flux) and turn it through 180 degrees'. Job done! My chum asked me if I could walk on water! 

 

Please keep your comments coming.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Headstock]

Nothing will stop me criticizing manufactures. Is Tony a manufacturer?

Edited May 17, 2020 by Headstock

[Tony Wright]

30 minutes ago, Headstock said:

Nothing will stop me criticizing manufactures. Is Tony a manufacturer?

Well,

 

I make things - which is a form of manufacturing. And, if it's wrong it should be criticised......

 

Regards,

 

Tony

[t-b-g]

I appreciate your comments Tony. The respect is mutual!

 

When I say that I won't say more, I just mean about the dodgy firebox. Although I will hopefully be the first to tell you the new one looks so much better!

 

 

 

 

[grahame]

2 hours ago, t-b-g said:

 

An interesting point. If, for the sake of an example, somebody who knows their way around a loco but has never built a model of anything in their life sees something wrong on a model, should they comment or keep quiet? Do they have to earn the right to be a critic by producing modelling credentials?

 

I really don't know the answer to that one and I am interested in what people think.

 

I don't think 'rights' have to be earnt through modelling credentials but some kind of appropriate authority, knowledge, experience or whatever tends to be a prerequisite which can be very different depending on the issue or subject.

 

And for me there is a big difference between criticism and feedback, and especially in the manner in which it is given.

 

 

 

[Headstock]

2 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Well,

 

I make things - which is a form of manufacturing. And, if it's wrong it should be criticised......

 

Regards,

 

Tony

 

Good evening Tony,

 

I would distinguish between those who want your money, fair game in my opinion. As long as you are not planning on producing an expensive book on firebox modelling, you are off the hook. With regard to the work of the ordinary Hobbyist, I don't usually comment unless it is something that I really like. When I do comment in a more critical way, hopefully it is constructive. I am mostly wary of saying anything, ignorance is cultivated as a virtue in model railwayland.

 

Generally, I'm more critical of lazy attitudes than the ups and downs of physical modelling. Getting of your backside and making something always has merit, even if it results in fireboxgate. Doing a bit of research has merit too, most can't be arsed with that one. I have to say, despite the skill and effort expended, If you know something is wrong and do it anyway, that is lazy attitude 101 and rewards ignorance in the hobby in all its forms.

[Anglian]

On 15/05/2020 at 19:05, Headstock said:

 

Good evening Anglian,

 

that applies to any paint, especially if you are spraying from too far away,  with the wrong paint mix on too high a pressure. You can compensate for temperature to some extent by working closer with a wetter mix and adjusting your pressure to suit. Inevitably, enamels are much more adaptable to taking advantage of the subtle control possible with an airbrush. The acrylics would require lots of tedious fathing about with retarders and other such chemical warfare stuff.

 

Thank you. That's really helpful.

[t-b-g]

Just to show that I haven't spent he entire day on RMWeb, here is a snap or two of what I have been up to today. The etches for Valour include a working arrangement to make the outside piston valves move but between the frames didn't look much like the real thing. I have some 7mm etches for the loco that include dummy inside valve gear, so I photocopied them down to 4mm and stuck the paper to some nickel silver and spent several hours making the inside valve gear. Almost invisible once the boiler and footplate are on but it is better, to me, than having either the wrong bits there or no bits at all!

 

I also made a new reversing reach rod, as the one in the etch was a bit "skinny" and I wanted a nickel silver one which will represent polished steel better than brass.

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2020 by t-b-g
The key for the letter T on my keyboard is rubbish!

[Paul Cram]

Today I have been adding the hand rails and drilling the hole for the clack valves on this NER class B. The handrails aren't fixed as I will put the final ones in when evrything else is finished to avoid damaging them

[Tony Wright]

50 minutes ago, t-b-g said:

Just to show that I haven't spent he entire day on RMWeb, here is a snap or two of what I have been up to today. The etches for Valour include a working arrangement to make the outside piston valves move but between the frames didn't look much like the real thing. I have some 7mm etches for the loco that include dummy inside valve gear, so I photocopied them down to 4mm and stuck the paper to some nickel silver and spent several hours making the inside valve gear. Almost invisible once the boiler and footplate are on but it is better, to me, than having either the wrong bits there or no bits at all!

 

I also made a new reversing reach rod, as the one in the etch was a bit "skinny" and I wanted a nickel silver one which will represent polished steel better than brass.

 

 

 

Good evening Tony,

 

I assume (or at least I hope so) it's a version of parallax attributed to your camera which has caused your B3 to have the firebox sloping upwards towards the cab; and a taper boiler!

 

Speaking of fireboxes....................

 

 

My own stupidity even amazes me at times! Having built a D16/3 recently, using (in part) a Mallard/Blacksmith kit, I'd forgotten that parts for a D16/2 are also included; which means a GER Belpaire firebox. 

 

So, a moment's immersion in boiling water and the GWR firebox was gone. Luckily, the firebox front was present in the Crownline kit; this was used as a guide. And, with some modification, here's the result. Better? 

 

I've been so keen to exonerate myself that I've left the cleaning up until tomorrow. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Edited May 17, 2020 by Tony Wright
typo error